Lecturer in Environmental Geography
Biological and Environmental Sciences Stirling
My research explores the overarching question: How can we provide sufficient and nutritious food for the global population whilst remaining within planetary boundaries? I am particularly interested in the linkages between food production and land use change, and the potential of nature-based solutions for meeting both food security and environmental goals.
Biography: I completed a NERC-funded PhD at the University of Dundee which investigated the impacts of climate change on food production in sub-Saharan Africa, and whether changes to people’s dietary patterns could mitigate these impacts. Following this, I worked as a research assistant at the University of Aberdeen on a project examining the challenges faced by national-level decision makers in sourcing environmental impact data on strategies to address zero hunger. From 2020-2023, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher on an ERC-funded project known as FORESTDIET at the University of Copenhagen, investigating the linkages between land use change and food security in low- and middle-income countries.
Professional qualification: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/
Article
Multipurpose trees on farms can improve nutrition in Malawi
Vansant E, Hall C, den Braber B, Kamoto J, Geck M, Reiner F & Rasmussen LV (2025) Multipurpose trees on farms can improve nutrition in Malawi. One Earth, 8 (2), Art. No.: 101165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2024.12.001
Article
Trees on farms improve dietary quality in rural Malawi
Hall CM, Den Braber B, Vansant E, Oldekop JA, Das U, Fielding D, Kamoto JFM & Rasmussen LV (2025) Trees on farms improve dietary quality in rural Malawi. Conservation Letters, 18 (1), Art. No.: e13061. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.13061
Book Chapter
Hall C (2024) Forestry. In: Handbook of African Economic Development. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/handbook-of-african-economic-development-9781800885790.html
Article
Tree plantations and forest regrowth are linked to poverty reduction in Africa
den Braber B, Hall CM, Rhemtulla JM, Fagan ME & Rasmusssen LV (2024) Tree plantations and forest regrowth are linked to poverty reduction in Africa. Communications Earth & Environment, 5, Art. No.: 724. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01845-2
Article
The importance of different forest management systems for people’s dietary quality in Tanzania
Olesen RS, Reiner F, den Braber B, Hall C, Kilawe CJ, Kinabo J, Msuya J & Rasmussen LV (2024) The importance of different forest management systems for people’s dietary quality in Tanzania. Landscape Ecology, 39, Art. No.: 176. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01961-6
Article
Vansant E, den Braber B, Hall C, Kamoto J, Reiner F, Oldekop J & Rasmussen LV (2024) Food-sourcing from on-farm trees mediates positive relationships between tree cover and dietary quality in Malawi. Nature Food, 5, pp. 661-666. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-024-01028-4
Article
Even low levels of tree cover improve dietary quality in West Africa
den Braber B, Hall C, Brandt M, Reiner F, Mugabowindekwe M & Rasmussen LV (2024) Even low levels of tree cover improve dietary quality in West Africa. PNAS Nexus, 3 (2), Art. No.: pgae067. https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae067
Article
Forest regrowth improves people’s dietary quality in Nigeria
Rasmussen LV, den Braber B, Hall CM, Rhemtulla JM, Fagan ME & Sunderland T (2023) Forest regrowth improves people’s dietary quality in Nigeria. npj Sustainable Agriculture, 1, Art. No.: 3. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44264-023-00003-z
Review
Olesen RS, Hall CM & Rasmussen LV (2022) Forests support people’s food and nutrition security through multiple pathways in low- and middle-income countries. One Earth, 5 (12), pp. 1342-1353. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.11.005
Article
Deforestation reduces fruit and vegetable consumption in rural Tanzania
Hall CM, Rasmussen LV, Powell B, Dyngeland C, Jung S & Olesen RS (2022) Deforestation reduces fruit and vegetable consumption in rural Tanzania. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 119 (10), Art. No.: e2112063119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2112063119
Commentary
Rethinking the approach of a global shift toward plant-based diets
Rasmussen LV, Hall C, Vansant EC, den Braber B & Olesen RS (2021) Rethinking the approach of a global shift toward plant-based diets. One Earth, 4 (9), pp. 1201-1204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2021.08.018
Article
The impact of climate and societal change on food and nutrition security: A case study of Malawi
Hall C, Macdiarmid JI, Smith P & Dawson TP (2021) The impact of climate and societal change on food and nutrition security: A case study of Malawi. Food and Energy Security, 10 (3). https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.290
Article
The relationship between forest cover and diet quality: a case study of rural southern Malawi
Hall C, Macdiarmid JI, Matthews RB, Smith P, Hubbard SF & Dawson TP (2019) The relationship between forest cover and diet quality: a case study of rural southern Malawi. Food Security, 11, pp. 635-650. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-019-00923-0
Article
The impact of population growth and climate change on food security in Africa: looking ahead to 2050
Hall C, Dawson TP, Macdiarmid JI, Matthews RB & Smith P (2017) The impact of population growth and climate change on food security in Africa: looking ahead to 2050. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 15 (2), pp. 124-135. https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2017.1293929
